The Lakers rolled to a 74-44 win over the Wildcats in a GLIAC North Division game at the Bud Cooper Gym.

The Lakers cruised to a 23-4 lead and turned that into a 41-17 halftime advantage. Derek Kinney scored 14 of his team-leading 18 points during the first nine minutes. Cameron Metz scored 16 points, while Rashaun Carroll had 11 and Derek Billing had 10 for the Lakers (10-6 overall, 8-5 GLIAC).

"We knew they were depleted, but our guys played well and played hard," Laker coach Steve Hettinga said. "A shorthanded team can still be dangerous, and I've been on both sides of that before. You have to be wary about the other team getting the wounded warrior mentality. It was good to get the early lead and we never took them lightly."

Northern Michigan competed with just six players, and finished the game with five. Freshman center Matt Iverson scored 19 points and Kendall Jackson had five points and 11 rebounds for the Wildcats (4-13, 3-10).

The Wildcats, who were already missing four players due to injuries, were without Matt Craggs and Stephen Pelkofer due to disciplinary reasons Thursday.

"The GLIAC is not a forgiving league," NMU coach Doug Lewis said. "Whatever hand you are dealt, is what you've got to play with. We just have to fight and claw and scratch. If the players we put on the floor give me their best effort, that's all I ask."

LSSU shot 54.5 percent from the field, including 6-of-16 from 3-point range. The Lakers made 8-of-11 free throws and out-rebounded NMU, 38-29.

Billing extended his perfect free-throw streak to seven games (38-of-38).

"Our attention to detail was good," Hettinga said. "At halftime, even though we had the big lead, we talked about playing smart and not developing any bad habits. We still wanted to play Lake State basketball. I thought our guys did that."

The Wildcats played most of the second half with just five players after T.J. Cameron suffered a concussion. NMU will most likely only have 7-8 players for the rest of the season.

"The cupboard is not bare," Lewis said. "We have talent and I think there's a bright future, but we're just wiped out by injuries right now. It's been one of those years where everything that can go wrong has gone wrong as far as injuries."

Lake Superior State plays host to Michigan Tech Saturday. The Huskies are in third place in the GLIAC North, a game ahead of the Lakers.